Learning from the Old Testament: Patterns for the Church Today — Part 3
The Night of Deliverance
The Exodus story begins not with freedom, but with a lamb. For centuries, Israel had lived in Egypt under Pharaoh’s harsh rule. When God moved to deliver them, He gave a strange command:
“They shall take the blood, and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel… The blood shall be to you for a token on the houses where you are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you.” (Exodus 12:7, 13, WEB)
That night, judgment fell on Egypt, but Israel was protected by the blood of the lamb. Their freedom began with sacrifice.
Christ Our Passover
The New Testament makes the connection unmistakable:
“For indeed Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed in our place.” (1 Corinthians 5:7, WEB)
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The lamb slain in Egypt points to Jesus, the Lamb of God (John 1:29).
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The blood on the doorposts points to the blood applied to our hearts by faith.
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The meal eaten in haste points to our readiness to follow Christ out of bondage.
The Exodus is not just Israel’s story. It is our story — deliverance through the blood of Christ.
Out of Egypt by the Blood
The first step in salvation is always the blood. Before Israel crossed the Red Sea or received the Law at Sinai, they first experienced redemption through the lamb’s sacrifice.
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Bondage in Egypt = humanity in sin.
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Pharaoh’s rule = Satan’s grip.
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The Passover blood = Christ’s atonement, freeing us from judgment.
Without the blood, there is no deliverance. With the blood, no power of Pharaoh can hold us.
Through the Sea
Deliverance did not end with the blood. Israel still faced Pharaoh’s army at the Red Sea. God commanded Moses to stretch out his hand, and the waters parted. Paul explains:
“All our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.” (1 Corinthians 10:1–2, WEB)
The Red Sea is a type of water baptism. What the blood began, baptism confirmed. The old life was buried; Pharaoh’s power was drowned.
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Egypt behind them.
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The wilderness ahead.
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A new identity as God’s people.
This is the second step of salvation: passing from slavery into freedom, marked by baptism.
Christ the Firstborn
There is another striking detail. On Passover night, every firstborn of Egypt died — but Israel’s firstborn were spared through the blood. The New Testament declares:
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation… the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He might have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:15, 18, WEB)
Jesus is the true Firstborn, struck down for our sake, that we might be spared and become the assembly of the firstborn (Hebrews 12:23).
What This Means for Us
The Exodus and Passover are not distant stories. They are God’s blueprint for deliverance:
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The Blood: Christ’s sacrifice covers us.
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The Sea: Baptism seals our separation from bondage.
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The Journey: A new life begins under God’s guidance.
Salvation is not only forgiveness; it is liberation. The God who delivered Israel still delivers today.
Looking Ahead
We’ve followed Israel from Egypt’s bondage through Passover night and the Red Sea crossing. In the next post, we’ll stand with them at Mount Sinai and discover how the giving of the Law foreshadows Pentecost — when God writes His commands, not on stone, but on the heart.
👉 This is Part 3 of our series “Learning from the Old Testament: Patterns for the Church Today.” In Part 4, we’ll explore how Sinai and Pentecost reveal the Spirit’s role in God’s plan.
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